tiverton

[HorshamRebel]

The one thing I noticed from the first to second half, was that in the first half, both teams played at a speed you would expect on that kind of pitch, and Slough were the better side.

 

In the second half, slough continued to play at the same pace they had in the first half, but Tiverton came out and played at a much faster pace, running towards the half of the pitch that had been cut up the most. This caused our defence loads of issues, as it was impossible go from a standing/low speed start, against someone coming at you at near full speed (as allowed on the pitch).

 

Slough attacked the better half of the pitch in the second half, which allowed Tiverton to defend better, as Slough did up that end in the first half.

 

I agree with most of the views already stated, so not saying we didn't play to our capabilities, in the second half, because we didn't. I'm just giving a point of view not yet given 

[kirk]

looks like a top ten finish now-forget promotion its not likely.

[Windsor Rebel]

If we win against Redditch on Tuesday will be fifth: back in the promotion play off places

[Reading Rebel]

looks like a top ten finish now-forget promotion its not likely.

 

 

A question before you crawl back under your rock Kirky, have you always been such a negative person?

 

We are very much still in the hunt for a play-off place, we haven't become a bad team over night.

[Irishadrian]

At kickoff yesterday both teams were in poor form relative to earlier in the season As well as their heaviest defeat for 13 years last Saturday Tivvy had lost 4 of their last six games It was always going to be about who performed best on the day and it wasn't us sadly.We've now lost almost 2/3rds of all the points we've lost since August in the last 8 weeks Neil/Jon have some thinking to do imo

[GlenSTFC]

Yes you don’t become a bad team overnight but the performances haven’t been at the level they were in the first part of the season. Maybe the amount of games and psychological effect of games in hand is taking their toll too? But we are all hoping Tuesday will see us flying out of the traps, put in a top performance and most importantly win.

[Reading Rebel]

Losing to Tiverton in a horrid winter conditions is hardly the worst result. Not scoring is a worry,though.

 

I hope we replace Brad Wadkins with a big,strong centre forward who can head a ball well and willing to get  in the thick of it.

In the Slough Express it was mentioned that we had put in a seven day approach in for a player,so I hope this is the first sort of player that comes in

 

From Unders post match assessment, sounds like we did well first half but got caught napping second half, and was always up against it going down to 10 men, so I don't believe we should press the panic buttons just yet.

That said, I think we may have to stretch our budget to add another midfielder to the mix and perhaps let one of our under performers go out on loan or leave the club, just to tweak our line up a bit.

 

 

I'm not sure if our recent drop in form is due to our midfield or strikers.

 

Reading between the lines from the post match interview with Unders it seems that he was particularly disappointed with the soft goals that were conceded.

 

Defend properly and we come away with a point.

Edited February 4, 2018 by Reading Rebel

[Sir Rebel1965]

Looking back, it looks like the cup games have had some effect, but not sure why.

 

We have without doubt one of the strongest squads for many years and the cohesion from the start of the season shows that, just need to relight the flame again - the solution will be something small and silly but it just needs to be found.

[REBEL MATTERS]

Going by the last three seasons, I don't quite get why we seem to undo all the good work weve done in the first half of the season. I am a big fan of the gaffers, dont get me wrong, but this second half season slump seems to crop up each year. Sort this and well be laughing. Either way, still the best Slough side weve had in years and that is thanks to the gaffers, so COYR !!!

[Jack Joshman]

I agree with Cippenham Rebel.

There's no need to defend the result yesterday or the second-half performance (which nobody is) - but this is still an impressive team, capable of beating any team in the league and with plenty to play for in the remainder of the season. 

Lets see what tweaks the managers can make, and get behind the team, home and away. 

[Irishadrian]

Very positive tweet from Neil in which his true feelings about the second half performance are made clear and the promise to act now to sort things out.

[Reading Rebel]

I see we only had 4 subs, anyone know why Nathan Webb wasn't in the squad?

[C'est la vie]

I see that Nathan along with Harrison Gilkes played for Godalming yesterday.

[Neil Baker]

Yes Nathan felt he needed a 90 minutes after a conversation with him Thursday night, and with the knowledge of what the pitch was going to be like, we didn’t think it would have suited his game entirely.

He will be back with us on Tuesday.

[3spirit]

Yes Nathan felt he needed a 90 minutes after a conversation with him Thursday night, and with the knowledge of what the pitch was going to be like, we didn’t think it would have suited his game entirely.

He will be back with us on Tuesday.

 

Strange that one,Neil, I would have thought he would have been the type of centre midfielder to have.

 

Interesting debate going on this thread about the where's and wherefore's of our winter game.

To me there is nothing wrong with the players we have in our ranks this season but if anything we try to play too much good football on rough pitches [ and before Windsor Rebel and Redwine Rebel say anything, I'm not professing to be the greatest away day traveller to have witnessed all the matches !]

It is evident to those that follow Slough,as Cippenham Rebel has alluded to, that our team has had the same issue/problem for the last three seasons,so it is nothing new. I'm sure there must be other teams who find it hard to adapt to the winter game, as well.

 

My perspective is that it is priority to win at home.

On good pitches away from home, there's nothing wrong with being adventurous and trying to win well but on these heavy,slippery poor pitches in poor weather, we should be looking to adopt a better game plan to eke out a win or to draw the game.

In my mind, perhaps we should take a leaf out of Kings Langley's book,in how they approached their away game [our home match] with us. In other words, be ultra defensive,

be difficult to break down and look for the quick breakout / counter attack.

 

We certainly have the players to do it but as I said previously I think we should now be on the lookout for a replacement for Brad Wadkins, and as addition to what we have,perhaps, a tenacious,ball winning centre midfielder who's no mug [ a Ben Edwards type comes to mind ],  to put an effective stratagy in place.

If a new midfielder is not possible, I would contempate putting someone like Guy Hollis or Nathan Smart in a three man centre midfield  alongside say Togs and Webb or Lenchy and Togs, or Webb and Dunny etc

 

To me we could play a 4-5-1 that can be fluid to adapt to a 3-5-2 or a 4-4-2. You don't have boycott flair players to play a defensive game but you do need players that will get stuck in and not dither on the ball. Nothing wrong in hitting a long ball but look to play to play short simple passes and not over elaborate, which unfortunately quite a few of our players tend to do, as they want the limelight.

 

That means our team being pragmatic,sensible and workmanlike,and not trying to be the division's great entertainers for these types of away games.

Nothing wrong with a little bit of individual attacking endeavour but not when it's just for showboating or just over indulgent,which often leads to being open to the counter attack.

To me I would forsake some of our wing play but that doesn't mean the flanks wouldn't get used at all. Vary our play but keep compact at the back.Forget using centre backs for our attacking corners. Use only midfielders and attackers. That way we don't need to worry they are out of position.

 

Our side needs to toughen up for these games.The 3-0 scoreline against Tiverton suggests to those who weren't at the game,that Slough were naive and easy to beat. 

Anyone who has watched Slough for a period of time, know that wouldn't be the case but we do need to be resilient and not a soft touch, if we want to progress, this winter season.    

[3spirit]

If we win against Redditch on Tuesday will be fifth: back in the promotion play off places

 

Been an enjoyable season so far on the field of play ,especially with how much the club has earn't through our FA Cup exploits but if we only make the play offs, it's going to feel like it's a season where the title has slipped through our grasp.

 

With such high hopes, it's looking like the fish has got off the hook. 

 

With the Chris Flood injury on Saturday as well to contend with, now look's the time to reinforce our flagging squad, to re-align our aspirations 

[redwine rebel]

Stuart, I think our point was that a majority of people have plenty to say on here without even seeing the game thats all.

 

For instance lets all have a good moan about the way we played when the first thing asked should of been how is Chris Flood' s head !!

[3spirit]

Stuart, I think our point was that a majority of people have plenty to say on here without even seeing the game thats all.

 

For instance lets all have a good moan about the way we played when the first thing asked should of been how is Chris Flood' s head !!

 

Sue, I don't think you were aiming your comments at me but I thought I would cover my back from you and WR, just in case ! ha ha !

 

Going by Twitter, sounds like Chris's injury was a bad one and I'm sure all Slough fans wish him well and a speedy recovery. He will be a big miss to our team.

 

A football forum, though, needs input from all sorts of people to keep topics open, fresh and insightful, so I think it's good to have a mixture of views about our beloved team, wether you was at the game or not.

Yes, the people at the game know the full facts of how things happened at the game but on a general note, this thread has turned on to a much wider subject,than just the 90 minutes at Tiverton and so should be analysed and then viewed as such.     

[kirk]

A question before you crawl back under your rock Kirky, have you always been such a negative person?

 

We are very much still in the hunt for a play-off place, we haven't become a bad team over night.

No just a realist.

[GlenSTFC]

Have some respect RR, Kirk and his whole family were at Tiverton!